Lawmaker introduces school attendance bill

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A Democratic Michigan lawmaker wants to ensure that students are not penalized for missing school to observe a religious holiday.

Democratic Rep. Kate Segal of Battle Creek recently introduced a bill that would prohibit public school officials from counting days students take off to observe religious holidays against them when handing out perfect attendance or other awards.

Segal said in a statement that if children make up their missed work they should not have to choose “between observing their faith and boosting their academic resume.”

Her office says that while students are often given an excused absence for missing school for a religious holiday, they may be disqualified from receiving a perfect attendance award as a result.